Sitka… The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today that the new groundfish regulationsapproved by the Board of Fish in February will go into effect on May 31. The new regulation bookletsshould be available by the middle of June. Following is a summary of the new regulations. LINGCOD 5AAC 28.173(a)(1) The allowable bycatch of […]

Commercial fishermen, processors, subsistence fishermen, Hoonah Indian Association, City of Pelican and City of Port Alexander joined together to file a motion to intervene in the Halibut Charter Lawsuit and request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the one halibut daily bag limit from being implemented on June 5th. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled […]

The 2nd commercial gillnet opening for kings harvested approximately 360 kings.  The sport fishery as of 5/20 has harvested approx. 420 chinooks for a total US harvest of 1400.  The Canadians have harvested 3,642 large kings in their fishery.  The first in-season projection was figured last week and is for a slightly lower forecast than the pre-season […]

A lawsuit was filed in DC by some charter operators to try and overturn the one halibut daily bag limit for charter clients in 2C.  The lawsuit includes a request for a preliminary injunction against the one halibut rule being implemented on June 5th. The following press release was issued today by the Halibut Coalition May […]

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND Harvest from the May 14, 2009 Copper River opening is estimated at 20,216 sockeye and 1,549 Chinook salmon. This compares to an anticipated harvest of 9,386 sockeye and 2,856 Chinook salmon as based on a preseason forecast of 509,584 sockeye and 30,725 Chinook salmon. TAKU KING SALMON FISHERY The Taku gillnet fishery […]

ADFG has posted the 2009 annual gillnet management plan for Southeast Alaska and for Lynn Canal.  A copy can be picked up at ADFG offices or viewed online at http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region1/finfish/salmon/s1mp.php

In a new rule released today, NOAA’s Fisheries Service reduced the number of halibut that charter vessel anglers in southeast Alaska can keep each day from two to one to protect the halibut stock. “While today’s rule addresses an immediate need to better manage the charter halibut fishery, we believe the long-term solution to sustainably managing […]